Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes
The Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes leads the development and implementation of the global health sector strategy on the elimination of the diseases as public health threats.
Sex workers
Sex workers face an increased burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood-borne infections. Globally, female sex workers are estimated to be 30 times more likely to be living with HIV than other women of reproductive age. In 2019, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS estimated a mean HIV prevalence of 36% among sex workers. The average reported prevalence of active syphilis among sex workers is 10.8% (range 5.8% to 30.3%) (WHO, GHO, 2020). While less is known about the prevalence or incidence of other STIs and viral hepatitis infections among sex workers, increased rates have been documented in different contexts around the globe.
Sex workers face high levels of stigma and criminalization almost everywhere. Modelling studies indicate that decriminalizing sex work could lead to a 46% reduction in new HIV infections in sex workers over 10 years, while eliminating sexual violence against sex workers could lead to a 20% reduction in new HIV infections.
WHO supports countries in their efforts to: address these structural barriers, ensure human rights for sex workers, and to implement a comprehensive package of HIV and other STI services through community-led approaches.
A number of priority health interventions can target prevention of HIV and other STIs among sex workers.
Essential for impact: enabling interventions | Essential for impact: health interventions | Essential for broader health: health interventions |
| Prevention of HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs
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News
Guidelines
Featured publication | 29 July 2022
Consolidated guidelines on HIV, viral hepatitis and...
These guidelines outline a public health response for 5 key populations (men who have sex with men, trans and gender diverse people, sex workers, people who inject drugs and people in prisons and other closed settings), and present and discuss new recommendations...
Publications
21 June 2023
New good practice statement on counselling behavioural interventions for key populations to prevent HIV,...
Key populations (men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, sex workers, trans and gender diverse people and people in prisons) are at increased...
29 July 2022
Policy brief: Consolidated guidelines on HIV, viral hepatitis and STI prevention, diagnosis, treatment...
The 2022 Consolidated guidelines on HIV, viral hepatitis and STI prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations outline a public health...
The guidelines fill a gap in providing tools for surveying HIV prevalence in key populations, and the included questionnaires may also inform general population...
1 July 2016
Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations
In this consolidated guidelines document on HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations, WHO brings together all existing guidance...
1 July 2015
Tool to set and monitor targets for HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations
This supplement provides technical guidance to assist countries in planning and monitoring efforts to address HIV among key populations: men who have sex...
1 January 2015
HIV and young people who sell sex
Key populations at higher risk of HIV include people who sell sex, men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender people and people who inject drugs. Young...
1 October 2013
Implementing comprehensive HIV/STI programmes with sex workers: practical approaches from collaborative...
This tool offers practical advice on implementing HIV and STI programmes for and with sex workers. It is based on the recommendations in the guidance document...
1 December 2012
Prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections for sex workers in low- and...
The objective of this document is to provide technical recommendations on effective interventions for the prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually...